Nigerians Say Petrol Discount Unfelt As Prices Stay High And Access Remains Limited

Nigerians have expressed frustration that the Federal Government’s petrol discount is yet to translate into meaningful relief, with pump prices remaining high and access to the discounted product limited to a mobile application.

The discount, announced by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, was intended to reduce the petrol price to N1,350 per litre at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited filling stations nationwide. The N66 per litre discount was initially introduced on October 1 to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary and later extended to October 31.

However, checks in Abuja showed that petrol was selling for N1,405 per litre to customers paying directly at the pumps, while those using the company’s mobile application paid N1,339 per litre. In some locations, petroleum marketers increased pump prices by up to N29 per litre despite the announced discount.

A motorist in Abuja, Babatunde Atoye, said the discount was not automatically available to customers at filling stations, adding that motorists had to use the company’s mobile application to access the offer.

Another motorist, Abdulrahim Malik, questioned the accessibility of the initiative, particularly for people without Android phones or the digital skills required to use the application.

“How do people who do not have access to Android phones benefit from the discount? Some people cannot read or write, let alone access Android phones. How can they use the digital application?” he asked.

A consumer, Toyin Daniel, also said motorists purchasing petrol directly at the pumps did not automatically enjoy the discount.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria described the discount as a publicity stunt, saying a N66 cut offers no relief with petrol at N1,370 per litre. “A N66 discount on petrol selling at N1,370 per litre is no economic relief. It is a cruel joke on Nigerians who are struggling to survive,” HURIWA said.

HURIWA also faulted the decision to make the discount available only through the NNPC mobile app, saying commercial drivers and others without smartphones, reliable internet or digital skills could be shut out. “The question is whether a struggling Nigerian can afford to buy petrol after the discount,” the group said.

In Port Harcourt and Yenagoa, checks showed that petrol prices remained high despite the Federal Government’s announcement.

An NNPC filling station near Nkpolu Junction in Port Harcourt was selling petrol at N1,405 per litre, while in Yenagoa, NNPC outlets near Tombia Junction and along Sani Abacha Expressway were selling at N1,400 per litre.

A commercial driver at Ekeki Motor Park in Yenagoa, Adebajo Festus, said the discount had not produced noticeable benefits for transport operators.

He argued that restricting the scheme to NNPC outlets would make it difficult for commercial drivers to access cheaper petrol without losing valuable working hours.

“If you tell us as drivers to buy at NNPC because government has reduced price, how many NNPC filling stations do we have here in Yenagoa, maybe two, how long will you be in the queue to buy the fuel before taking passengers to where they are going?” he asked.

In Kwara State, commercial transporters said they had yet to feel the impact of the discount.

A check at the NNPC mega station along Asa Dam Road showed that petrol was selling for N1,375 per litre, while the NNPC station at Adewole dispensed the product at N1,405 per litre.

A commercial transporter, Mr Malik Sulyman, said the prices remained too high to make any meaningful difference to his business.

“I still buy fuel at around N1,400 per litre, which means spending about N100,000 for roughly 70 litres. How much will one make after buying a full tank?” he said.

Sulyman said the discount would only make a significant difference if petrol prices dropped to N1,000 per litre or below.

The NNPC had insisted that the initiative was a customer relief measure and did not represent the reintroduction of petroleum subsidy.

The company said the discount applied only to NNPC Retail outlets and did not establish a uniform national pump price or alter the market-based pricing framework.